Teacher arrested for child porn

Posted by Press Release on September 7, 2018

The Pennsylvania State Police announced today that Tyler Smith, 25, a resident of West Chester, was charged today with possession and distribution of child pornography as well as criminal use of a communication facility. Smith was employed at the Goddard School daycare in West Bradford Township as a teacher and caretaker for the last two years.

According to a press release, a cyber tip complaint was received by the Pennsylvania Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in August. The tip detailed that the online social media service ‘Tumblr’ had reported a user uploading depictions of child pornography. Tumblr provided the contraband images and logs showing the actor’s IP address. The upload was found to have occurred at the Smith’s residence in West Bradford.

An investigation was then initiated by the state police’s Computer Crime Unit. That unit, along with members from the Embreeville and Avondale stations, executed a search warrant at the Smith’s residence. Following the search and subsequent investigation, Smith was taken into custody at his place of employment.

Smith was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Bret Binder. Bail was set at 10 percent of $50,000. As of this morning, the Smith remains incarcerated in the Chester County Prison awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for Sept. 14 at District Court 15-1-01.

Anyone with additional information related to this investigation is asked to contact Trooper Jason Sperrazza, PSP Embreeville, Criminal Investigation Unit at 610-486-6280.